The last couple weeks have been spent celebrating Mark's life through grade school and graduation from high school. Of course I teared up at graduation, the music gets to me. I must have been sticking out a bit with my hot pink jacket because a couple board members found me among the 4000 guests. And what was I doing, crying. Tears of joy for sure. But they noticed.
Funny though that the time I teared up the most that weekend was our official
cutting down of the band sign. For several years now we have announced to the neighborhood that we had kids in the marching band program. In Fishers you do this by purchasing large garage signs that are hung proudly outside your home announcing your kid's participation in a high school event. We did this for Liz when she was in color guard and for the past 4 years we did this for Mark for his participating in the marching band.
Well, it was time to move on to the next page in Mark's life and remove the sign. We did not keep the sign over our garage but rather on our porch. After the guests all left last weekend, we had a morning ceremony to officially cut off the sign. I really teared up. I think more so than at graduation. Why? Probably because Juan and I were also so active in the marching band program. We had four wonderful years at HSE watching both of our kids enjoy the "family" that band provides. Even more so for Mark. Band was the "thing" that helped him connect. It was the one thing he loved to do and helped him find that niche in high school. It was the place where he could act himself and feel good about it. It was his way to connect to a new high school when we moved just days before school started Mark's freshman year. It helped him stayed connected to Hamilton Southeastern High as he went to class at the Freshman campus at Fishers High. It helped a guy who does not like change move to another campus his sophomore year.
Funny how things work out. When Mark entered his 6th grade year at Kahler Middle School in Dyer. He was playing less sports as the competition got more intense and asked if he could join their band. We were a bit hesitant because of our concern that Mark might not keep practicing or take it seriously. He was scheduled to play the trombone but asked the director if he could instead play the trumpet. The director said yes. We of course wanted to support him but were a bit concerned about the expense of buying an instrument until we knew he was serious. Luckily a family friend owned a coronet she was willing to give Mark to try band out. He connected, it was great. Secretly John and I wondered if he would keep it up. When he asked for a trumpet, we decided that we would indeed purchase the silver trumpet he wanted if he stayed in band for high school. He did and when band started his sophomore year he was the proud owner of a silver trumpet. During high school band Mark played the mellophone, flugel horn, trumpet, baritone, and euphonium. He did stick through it!
Now you know why the tears flowed. Seven years of dedication and finding that niche that for an otherwise pretty quiet kid. Cool, really cool. We are so proud of you Mark!
Comments